Mayweather vs Maidana 2: Prediction, head-to-head analysis

Tonight, Saturday, September 13th , from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, WBC Welterweight/Junior Middleweight Champion Floyd "Money" Mayweather will once again attempt to keep his undefeated record intact as he takes on the hard punching former two-division world titlist Marcos "El Chino" Maidana, in a scheduled twelve round championship contest.

The singular event dubbed "Mayhem" will be produced and distributed live by Showtime PPV (8 p.m. eastern/5 p.m. pacific) with a $65 (SD) and $75 (HD) price tag.

Because of the competitive nature of their first epic battle on May 3rd, betting odds have tightened a bit with Mayweather (-710) still the favorite and Maidana (+575) remaining as the event's dark horse.

Will the clamored second event between "Money" and "El Chino" be as action filled as their spirited first affair, or will the fight fans around the world see another vintage Mayweather performance and a more decisive victory for the living boxing legend?

Let's look at the Tale of the Tape!!

Tale of the TapeFloyd Mayweather Jr. (46-0, 26 KOs) – The biggest money maker in the sport stands 5'8´and possesses a 72 inch reach. Floyd fights out of an orthodox stance and boasts a perfect resume of 46 victories, no defeats, and 26 wins by way of knock-out.

Mayweather is a five division world champion, ranging from 130 to 154 pounds, and his athletic gifts are second to none.

The Grand Rapids native utilizes the famous "Michigan defensive strategy" against his adversaries; a defensive tactic in which he rolls away from his opponents' offensive attack while staying in position to land a right hand counter. It's a very difficult strategy to master and implement proficiently because it relies so heavily on reflexes, balance, and upper body and head movement. But when practiced to perfection, it becomes impervious to any opponent's offense.

One of the reasons why most fighters don't even try the Michigan shell is because they don't possess the unique athletic gifts of a Floyd Mayweather Jr. Along with possessing the highest ring IQ in boxing; Floyd's lightning fast reflexes continue to be his greatest advantage over his opposition.

Floyd seems to have deceptive power because of his ability to catch his opposition with punches they don't anticipate and see coming. Although the pound for pound fighter has suffered from chronic hand problems throughout the great majority of his professional career, he can still hurt his opponents with his primary weapons...the straight right hand and the check left hook.

His physical endurance and mental toughness is extremely underrated, and rivaled by very few fighters throughout boxing's rich history. His will to win and his uncanny ability to adapt in the ring make Floyd Mayweather Jr. an almost impossible combatant to defeat in a twelve round contest.

Marcos "El Chino" Maidana (35-4, 31 KOs) - The Argentine hammer fights out of an orthodox stance and possesses a 69" reach, while standing 5'7" inside the ring. Born in Margarita, Santa Fe, Argentina, the 31 year old fighter carries sledgehammers in both fists and an iron resolve that is seldom detoured.

The two division world champion has been a professional since 2004, and ostensibly earned a second opportunity to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. by putting forth a competitive effort and convincing many ringside observers that he did enough to deserve a victory with a workmanlike effort.

Since working with two-time trainer of the year Robert Garcia in Oxnard, California, the heavy handed fighter has been impressive, only dropping a controversial majority decision to "Money" Mayweather. Before making his move to the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in the Summer of 2012, "El Chino" already enjoyed the gift of heavy hands and a seemingly unflappable will to win, which have always served as Maidana's most valuable attributes in the ring.

But the heralded fight trainer has greatly improved Maidana's overall understanding of the fight game, including a knowledge of distance, timing, and angles. Before working under Garcia's tutelage, Marcos would aggressively pursue his opposition and often smother his own offensive attack by trying to put his punches together at short range.

But has Maidana added the ability of working proficiently at short range to his overall fight game?

The hard punching fighter is a mid to long range banger and is most effective when throwing punches from a distance. Although Maidana is an effective aggressor and is proficient at cutting off the ring, hasn't been able to work well on the inside.

Over the course of his last five bouts, Maidana has displayed his improved ring intelligence by setting up his entire arsenal of shots behind a stiff lead jab; consistently using the punch as a diversionary tactic.

Chino's primary weapons are his underrated stiff jab, left hook, and looping overhand right. The hard charging Argentine has great physical and mental durability, and always stays composed in the ring, even when faced with adversity.

Despite falling short in his May 3rd meeting with the best pound for pound fighter in boxing, Marcos Maidana will once again enter the ring as one of the most confident fighters in the sport. But will his confidence, power, and unshakable determination be enough to overpower and outwork Mayweather?

Keys to VictoryThe key to a Floyd Mayweather victory is distance, movement, and angles. He needs to keep "El Chino" Maidana at safe distances and angles throughout the entire fight by using his footwork, and a mixture of jabs. He wants to make Marcos frustrated by moving him about the ring and forcing him to lunge in with the wide left hook or overhand right; ultimately catching him off balance and timing him with a sharp counter.

If Floyd can time him after making him miss by using his feet, he can pot shot Maidana all night long with the lead left hook or straight right hand. When Floyd starts to land his stinging jab with regularity, he can set up everything else that comes with the Mayweather arsenal: left hook to the body and head, left uppercut, and right hook to the jaw.

As soon as PBF feels his back touch the top rope, he absolutely must move laterally. Floyd has to keep the fight in the center of the ring and create lots of space between him and his opponent.

If Floyd Mayweather Jr. can keep Maidana at a safe distance and control the tempo of the fight, making it a boxing match, he will easily shut down Chino's attack and possibly stop him in the mid to late rounds.

For Marcos Maidana to be successful in upsetting the living legend, "El Chino" once again has to start quickly and charge at the defensive master. He cannot fight Floyd in the center of the ring. Marcos has to do his best to turn the bout into a physical brawl and punish Floyd at mid-range with a hard left hook/overhand right.

Marcos must work behind the jab to the body and head as he moves into punching range. He absolutely cannot lunge in with the left hook from outside, or Floyd will slip and counter him effectively while Chino is off balance.

If Maidana can work his way in range feinting with the jab and sporadically landing it to the body and head, he could set the table for his vaunted mid range left hook and overhand right, possibly hurting the undefeated fighter.

But Marcos absolutely has to work more proficiently at short range when he is successful in closing the distance, throwing shorter and more compact combinations to the body and head while pressing Mayweather against the ropes.

If "Chino" can show some improvement to his inside game, and once again turn the bout into a dogfight at the opening bell, Marcos Maidana can hurt Floyd Mayweather Jr. before he can adapt and overcome, and ultimately pull off the dramatic upset in tonight's main event of the evening.

Mayweather vs Maidana 2 predictionJust by observing Mayweather's actions leading into the highly anticipated rematch, the five division world champion seems to be more focused, determined, and prepared for a fighter like Marcos "El Chino" Maidana. Although many believe that Floyd is no longer capable of staging another vintage "Money" performance at age 37, I believe that fight fans will see another virtuoso type of effort from Floyd Mayweather Jr., and he will remain the WBC/WBA Welterweight Champion.